“The time has not come yet… I haven’t forgot what I said. When the time comes, I’ll let you know,” he said.

Prayuth, who led the military coup to oust former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in 2014, said he has yet to decide to stay on as prime minister.

“I have to look at the law and the Constitution. I have to consider what I should stay on for,” he said.

Bangkok Post reported wide speculation that MPs from the Pheu Thai party, once led by Yingluck, were being asked to defect to the Palang Pracharat party. The latter party could serve as a vehicle for the extension of Prayuth’s tenure in office.

To circumvent the hurdle, Prayuth could be nominated a frontrunner for the post by a political party.

Another route Prayuth could take through the military-backed Constitution is by being elected as an “outside prime minister” upon the nomination of the House of Representatives and military-appointed Senate if the winning party’s candidate fails to secure enough votes.

Prayuth junta government, previously known as the National Council of Peace and Order, has promised to lift its ban on political activities before the elections.